Methods of determining performance information for individuals and sports objects

• US 10,317,187 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Coza, Aurel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vincent Q
• Application Number:
  US15/265,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20170003111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 32420711, 32420716
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/00 Devices for handling or treating balls , e.g. for holding or carrying balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/008 Devices for measuring or verifying ball characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/08 : involving use of the magnetic field of the earth
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 : Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 : specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0035 : Calibration of single magnetic sensors, e.g. integrated calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 : Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 : operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 : using computer methods

Abstract

Methods for determining performance information for an object located within an area include obtaining magnetic field information for the area, measuring first magnetic field data when the object is located at a first position within the area, and determining performance information for the object within the area based on the magnetic field information for the area and the first magnetic field data.

Claims

1. A method for determining performance information of an object located within an athletic field area, the method comprising, in order:

obtaining magnetic field map data for the athletic field area;

measuring magnetic field data when the object is located at a position within the athletic field area; and

determining performance information of the object within the athletic field area based on the magnetic field map data for the athletic field area and the magnetic field data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field data comprises one of magnetic field intensity data and magnetic field direction data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the magnetic field data comprises both magnetic field intensity data and magnetic field direction data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field map data for the athletic field area comprises magnetic field information defining a plurality of locations on the athletic field forming a grid-like pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field map data for the athletic field area comprises magnetic field information associated with a boundary of the field of play of the athletic field.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining magnetic field map data for the athletic field area comprises accessing a previously determined magnetic field map data for the athletic field area.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field data is measured using a magnetometer coupled to the object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field data comprises first magnetic field data and the position is a first position, further comprising:

measuring second magnetic field data when the object is located at a second position within the athletic field area, wherein determining the performance information of the object within the athletic field area is further based on the second magnetic field data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a piece of athletic equipment.

10. A method for determining performance information of an object located within an athletic field area, the method comprising, in order:

obtaining magnetic field map data for the athletic field area;

measuring magnetic field data when the object is located at a position within the athletic field area at a time; and

determining a location of the position of the object at the time based on the magnetic field data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the magnetic field data comprises first magnetic field data, the position is a first position, and the time is a first time, further comprising:

measuring second magnetic field data when the object is located at a second position within the athletic field area at a second time after the first time;

determining a location of the second position of the object at the second time based on the second magnetic field data; and

determining performance information for the object based on the location of the first position of the object at the first time and the location of the second position of the object at the second time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the performance information determined comprises the speed of the object as it travels between the first position and the second position.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the magnetic field map data for the athletic field area comprises magnetic field information defining a plurality of locations on the athletic field forming a grid-like pattern.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the performance information comprises the distance traveled by the object as it travels between the first position and the second position.

15. A method for determining performance information of an object located within an athletic field area, the method comprising, in order:

obtaining magnetic field map data for the athletic field area;

measuring magnetic field data when the object is located at a position within the athletic field area;

comparing the magnetic field data with the magnetic field map data for the athletic field area; and

determining a set of possible locations of the first position of the object within the athletic field area based on the comparison of the magnetic field data with the magnetic field map data for the athletic field area.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field data comprises first magnetic field data and the position is a first position, further comprising:

measuring second magnetic field data when the object is located at a second position within the area;

comparing the second magnetic field data with the magnetic field map data for the athletic field area; and

applying constraints to the second magnetic field data to determine a possible location of the second position of the object based on the constraints and the comparisons of the first magnetic field data and the second magnetic field data with the magnetic field map data for the athletic field area.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnetic field map data for the athletic field area comprises magnetic field information defining a plurality of locations on the athletic field forming a grid-like pattern.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein applying constraints to the second magnetic field data to determine a possible location of the second position of the object comprises factoring in physical space constraints of the athletic field area.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein applying constraints to the second magnetic field data to determine a possible location of the second position of the object comprises factoring in motion dynamics constraints of the object.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field data comprises one of magnetic field intensity data and magnetic field direction data.